If you have ever scrolled through Reddit and noticed the “Promoted” posts, you have seen Reddit Ads in action. For marketers, Reddit is a unique platform. It is less polished than Instagram, less professionally networked than LinkedIn, and far more community-driven than Facebook. The big question is: are Reddit ads worth it? Let’s break it down.
Are Reddit Ads Worth It?
Reddit ads can be worth the investment if you understand the platform’s culture and target the right subreddits. The strength of Reddit is its deeply engaged communities. Some users scroll casually, “lurking” without an account. But very often they interact, debate, and share resources.
And that’s the real value. It means you are advertising to a target audience based on specific interests and passions. This goes beyond regular demographics. It’s interest based, and that’s valuable.
However, Reddit users are quick to reject anything that feels intrusive or inauthentic. Ads that perform bdest are those that feel like a natural part of the conversation. Brands that invest time in learning the subculture of a subreddit tend to see better click-through rates and community acceptance.
From a marketing ROI perspective, Reddit can deliver a lower cost-per-click (CPC) than many social media platforms and better long-term engagement if the message resonates. Its unique relationship with Google also give it an edge over other advertising platforms.
How Do You Run Reddit Ads?
Running Reddit ads is fairly straightforward through Reddit Ads Manager:
- Create a Reddit account dedicated to your business.
- Access ads.reddit.com.
- Set your campaign objective (traffic, conversions, brand awareness, etc.).
- Choose targeting options (including subreddit targeting, interests, locations, devices).
- Upload your ad creative (image, text, or video).
- Set your budget and schedule (new bid options rolled out in the past few weeks).
- Launch and monitor results.
The most successful campaigns are those that tailor their ad copy to Reddit’s conversational tone and the culture of the targeted subreddit. As I’ve mentioned before, these are real people who value real conversation.
Different ad formats include text ads, image ads, video ads, carousel ads, and ads that appear directly within a conversation. Any of these could be effective. It depends on your brand, assets, and strategy. The key is authenticity and an understanding of the Reddit audience.
Product ads, which allow you to promote specific products directly from your catalogue, may perform very well, especially if they eliminate inauthentic conversation starters. It’s often valuable for brands on Reddit to be transparent about their offers.
You could promote your brand with the same content you’ve used elsewhere, but it likely won’t perform the same way. According to Reddit, the majority of its users aren’t on Twitter/X. And 30% aren’t even on Facebook.
It benefits marketers to participate in at least rudimentary social listening, so they can craft posts and advertisements that reflect the existing conversations in your industry.
Tools like Karmatic give you a high-level overview on the dashboard and allow you to dig deeper into specific conversations as needed. Clever marketers can use the data to increase CTR across ad campaigns, ensuring the messaging is relevant and timely.
Feedback on ad campaigns is valuable, and that often comes from metrics like click-through rate, but good planning can deliver positive ROI more efficiently. Monitor interactions from your campaign. Set up an account and be part of the community, too. The more value you provide to the community, the better your ROI.
How Much Do Reddit Ads Cost?
Reddit ads typically start at $5 per day for self-serve campaigns. Costs vary based on bidding and targeting:
- CPC campaigns often range from $0.20 to $1.00 per click.
- CPM (cost per thousand impressions) campaigns can range from $0.50 to $4.00 depending on competition.
- Premium placements or broader targeting will increase cost.
The platform’s auction-based bidding system means prices fluctuate, especially for popular subreddits.
What Kind of Targeting Can You Do with Reddit Ads?
Targeting is one of Reddit’s biggest strengths. And it’s one of the ways a campaign becomes so cost effective. You can target based on:
- Subreddits (specific communities)
- Interests (topics like technology, fitness, finance)
- Location (country, state, or city)
- Device type (desktop or mobile)
- Time of day (to match peak activity)
This means you can advertise directly to communities that are already talking about topics relevant to your product. And metrics from a smart listening and Reddit strategy platform like Karmatic can help inform your choices.
What Kind of ROI Do You See with Reddit Ads?
ROI varies widely. For brands selling highly niche products, Reddit often delivers above-average engagement and long-term customer loyalty. For mass-market brands, ROI can be lower if ads feel out of place in a community.
Using Karmatic, one brand was able to grow its own branded subreddit organically from 0 to more than 350 active members within just a few weeks. Reddit ads across related subreddits could help that number grow 10x, which could pay dividends long-term for a small brand.
To get the best ROI, pair your ad strategy with smart tools like Karmatic.ai. It helps you highlight the right conversations, audiences, and trends. Ads then help you maximize exposure once you understand the conversation.
Blocking Ads on Reddit
Individual users can block Reddit ads through certain ad-blocking browser extensions or premium subscriptions like Reddit Premium, which removes ads entirely. However, the majority of Reddit users still see ads. This means your campaigns will still reach a significant portion of the platform’s 57 million daily active users.
Generally, people don’t block Reddit ads. They see them in their home feeds, on their favorite subreddits, and along the sidebar.
Key Takeaways for Marketers
- Reddit ads are best for niche targeting and authentic engagement.
- Costs are competitive compared to other platforms.
- ROI is strongest when ads align with community norms.
- Success requires understanding the culture of your chosen subreddits.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are Reddit ads worth it for small businesses?
Yes, if your audience is active in specific subreddits and you have a conversational, value-driven approach.
2. Can I target multiple subreddits in one campaign?
Yes, but be sure they are related in topic and tone for consistent messaging.
3. Is Reddit better for B2B or B2C marketing?
It works for both, but B2C often sees faster engagement. B2B can benefit from niche industry subreddits.
4. Do Reddit ads work without images or videos?
Text-only ads can perform well if the copy feels authentic and sparks discussion.
5. Should you run Reddit ads along with or in place of Meta ads?
About 30% people on Reddit aren’t on Facebook. And about 60% of Reddit’s community isn’t on Twitter/X. If your audience differs from this, it could make sense to run ads on both platforms. A Reddit ad campaign has many of its own benefits, unique to the platform.
If you approach Reddit as a community-first platform rather than a billboard, you can run profitable campaigns while building trust in some of the most passionate online audiences.
